CINCINNATI (WKRC) – Shelters across the country are facing overcrowding as the number of homeless pets grows beyond shelter capacity.
“They keep coming,” said Megan Colville, director of the Cincinnati Animal Care and Humane Society.
Colville said the shelter has been nearly full for as long as she can remember. She also said she has to get creative to find space to house all the animals.
“We have dogs in the office, and sometimes we have them temporarily living in pop-up crates. We also have a number of staff members who take their dogs home,” Colville said.
The shelter cares for approximately 500 dogs. Half are in their care and the other half are in foster care throughout Cincinnati.
“The total number of dogs we housed together at our Coleraine store has grown to 250, and it's become too crowded. We only have 100 suitable kennels with indoor and outdoor access,” Colville said. Told.
The group operated primarily from its base on Coleraine Avenue on the North Side. But to meet growing needs, he's expanding into his second store a few minutes away on Dane Avenue.
“We're in two different places right now. We were just in that place. A lot of people are hearing that we're in the second phase. Great, we're increasing the population. We were able to spread it out,” Colville said.
Colville said the county is renovating the space, which was previously just a warehouse. The flooring has been replaced and further work is expected to begin soon.
“What we're most looking forward to is a kennel that fits into that building. We're currently using an outdoor pen indoors,” Colville said.
With the expansion, volunteers are desperately needed, Coalville said.
“They need someone to walk them, they need someone to help them stock their kennels, and they need someone to give them some kind of toy to chew on each day. We also give each dog We want them out of the kennel at least twice a day,” Colville said. We are trying to find ways to make it work and hope that adoptions will increase again. ”
If you would like to volunteer or learn more about the shelter's work, click here
